Report: Raiders inquire about trading for Eagles QB McNabb

Rich Gannon was 33 when the Raiders signed him as an unrestricted free agent after a four-year run with the Kansas City Chiefs ended in 1999.

It didn’t take long for Gannon to assert himself as the Raiders unquestioned starting quarterback and make people forget about Jeff George, Donald Hollas and Wade Wilson.
Gannon earned Pro Bowl honors four straight seasons and was the league MVP for the 2002 season.

Perhaps, then, it makes sense to learn of the Raiders of approaching the Philadelphia Eagles about a trade for quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Eagles coach Andy Reid said at the NFL owners meeting in Orlando, Fla., earlier this week that he has been contacted by teams about all three of his quarterbacks, including Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick.

“We’ll go back and look through those [talks] and think through them a little bit once we’re away from this situation here,” Reid said. “[There is] nothing that, right now, that I can jump up and down about. But there has been some interest. … I’m listening to things out there. I’m not saying I’m doing anything. I’m just keeping my ears open, which we do on every player. This is no different.”

That has helped fuel the speculation, which is running rampant about now.

The Philadelphia Inquirer cited a league source in reporting that the St. Louis Rams are offering the Eagles a second-round draft pick (No. 33 overall) and free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe for McNabb.

A Rams source told NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora that there is nothing to that report. Later, Rams general manager Billy Devaney told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the Inquirer report is “utterly ridiculous” and that he hasn’t spoken with the Eagles about any of his players.

Make of it what you will. The move makes sense from the Raiders standpoint if coach Tom Cable and managing general partner Al Davis aren’t sold upon JaMarcus Russell, Bruce Gradkowski or Charlie Frye as the starter for next season.

Cable certainly isn’t sold upon any of the three as the unquestioned starter, saying it’s a full, wide-open competition come training camp. Trading for McNabb could change that in an instant.

The thinking also could go along the lines of bringing in McNabb so that he can give the Raiders the best chance of succeeding this year and asking him to help develop Russell.
It’s worth noting that McNabb had flattering things to say about Russell a few days before the Eagles played the Raiders at the Coliseum last season and went out of his way after the game to speak with Russell.

“Not all the negative aspects of what’s been going on should fall on JaMarcus because it’s a team game,” McNabb said in a conference call with Raiders beat writers four days before the Raiders beat McNabb and the Eagles.

McNabb said that Russell’s progress has been retarded by the high turnover in coaches, offensive coordinators, play-callers and players during his first three seasons.
It’s a tough situation for him,” McNabb said in the conference call. “I’m sure that he’s going to do what he has to do in order to pull himself out of it, and just make sure the guys understand that he’s putting in the effort as well.”

Cable said Tuesday at the owners meeting that Russell is putting in the required effort and that things are going as planned. Maybe so, but that’s coming from the same coach who pulled Russell from games twice last season and, ultimately, benched him for the final seven games.

The Raiders aren’t allowed to comment on a player under contract to another team, so there’s nothing from their camp about the McNabb-to-the-Raiders stories. Two Raiders employees said that they were unaware of the Raiders contacting the Eagles about McNabb.

McNabb was the second pick of the 1999 NFL draft by the Eagles. He has amassed 32,873 yards and 216 touchdowns passing, with only 100 interceptions. The Eagles have reached the playoffs eight times and the Super Bowl once on his watch.

The reports of McNabb being shopped by the Eagles prompted him to respond on his blog on yardbarker.com.

“I was asked to respond to statements made at the NFL owners meetings that the Eagles would entertain offers to trade any of their three QBs,” McNabb said. “Here is my response: My position hasn’t changed. I’ve said all along that I would like to win a Super Bowl and finish my career in Philadelphia.

“I understand the situation well and just hope whichever direction the Eagles decide to go in, they do it quickly. I think that would be best for me, Kevin, Michael, the Eagles, and any other teams involved. No matter what happens, I’ve already begun preparing to have an outstanding season in 2010.”

Last season, McNabb passed for 3,553 yards and 22 touchdowns. He completed 60.3 percent of his passes, with 10 interceptions.

By comparison, Russell, Gradkowski and Frye passed for 2,875 yards and 10 touchdowns. The trio completed 52.8 percent of their passes, with 18 interceptions.

Any team trading for McNabb would inherit his contract, which expires after next season. He also is due a $6.2 million roster bonus in May. In other words, it’s likely that the Raiders or another team that trades for him first would attempt to work out a long-term contract.

Russell’s contract calls for him to earn $9.45 million in 2010. Of that figure, $3 million is guaranteed whether he is on the opening-day roster or not.

Steve Corkran

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OK, I am curious now. Why do you guys think picking Dez would be a good idea?
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RaiderDebo Says:
March 25th, 2010 at 11:27 am
jhill Says:
March 25th, 2010 at 11:24 am
doing the unthinkable and drafting Dez Bryant.

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Why would that be unthinkable?
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I’d love that move. Ask RRS.

SteveAlford21

BoSchembecklerJackson,

I think someone will have to check the archives to make sure, but I’m almost 100% certain that one of my very first posts after seeing your “Trade DMAC” posts was as follows:

“Trade DMC for DMC?”

I always call McFadden “DMC” rather than DMAC and I was being silly, referring to us trading McFadden to ourselves FOR McFadden, but nevertheless… it could have been very psychic on my part if we DO trade DMC for Donovan McNabb (DMc).

it could have been very psychic on my part if we DO trade DMC for Donovan McNabb (DMc).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

If this happens, I will get Rockstart to wash your butt and drink the water. And I’ll buy a retro Alford Hoosier jersey.

DKnight007

RaiderRockstar Says:
March 25th, 2010 at 10:34 am
I like the fact that the Raiders have been scheduling visits with OL and not DB’s!

probably a smokescreen. haha

^^^^^^^^^
A terrible smokescreen at that! LOL

CJ Legend 34

Man, that sounds very tempting but we only have two big problems. A) No o-line protection and B) No QB to get them ball. Plus, we just spent a $#!t load of $ last year for DHB, which stands for “Damn Hands Bull$#!T”!
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jhill Says:
March 25th, 2010 at 11:30 am
Draft Dez Bryant and run the Shotgun Sread with Dez, Schillens, Murphy, and DHB.

DMAC in the backfield.

CJ Legend 34

jhill I would not doubt it but who would throw him the ball DMAC?
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jhill Says:
March 25th, 2010 at 11:33 am
OK, I am curious now. Why do you guys think picking Dez would be a good idea?

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Because he would arguably be our #1 WR from day 1.

ottocrat

OK, I am curious now. Why do you guys think picking Dez would be a good idea?

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Why would we do that? We already drafted the most awesome WR in the 1st Rnd last year. How can this guy be better than the legendary DHB?

No way in hell Mcnabb goes to the Riaders. Are you guys high? Okay Donavan here are your offers, Team A, Team B and Oakland. I want to go to Oakland, Pissshhh yeah right!!! Don’t get wrong I would like to see it, but that will never happen.

Anyways the rumors are he wants to go to AZ, ( he spends his offseason time there) or Minnesota.

DKnight007

I would have NO problem with picking Dez with the #8 overall pick.

Dez is a baller with good speed, route running, body control, physical toughness, and more importantly he has HANDS!

The WR position does not have major money being allocated right now except for DHB, but his contract will be restructured down anyway within two years due to him not being productive enough to warrant that kind of money and heck you never know in 4 years he might even wind being cut!

Having a WR corp of Dez, Chaz, and Murphy with DHB as the backup or 4th WR is not bad.

JLH can just focus on punt returns with Miller and battle with DHB for that 4th spot. The loser of the punt return battle gets cut.

DKnight007

KoolKell Says:
March 25th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Line & QB problems and we should draft a WR????????????????

^^^^^^^^^
Whats wrong with picking the BEST OVERALL PLAYER ON THE BOARD….and then getting O-Line and D-Line with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th round picks?

Then again….the looney old man Al would pick Dez first but then pick a CB, KR, and a FB, and S the rest of the way in the draft and completelty forget about the Lines and blow it! LOL

fat kidd

If mcnabb goes to the rams the first pick will not be sam brafford he will go with the 2nd pick to dallas from detroit in a trade,jerry jones still likes mcfadden so mcfadden & frye to dallas for tony romo ,so get yourself a tony romo jersey!

DaRaiderz610

MCNABB WILL GET US TO THE PLAYOFFS … THEN CHOKE
LIKE HE DID EVERY YEAR FOR PHILY

RaiderRetribution

Anyone who would diss Carrie Underwood for Jessica Simpson is not fit nor smart enough to lead the Raiders, hell even Mr. J. Russell has more sense than that.